Machine for boxing matches.



No. 709,267. Patented Sept. l6, I902.

W. F. HUTCHINSON.

MACHINE FOB BOXING MATCHES. (Application filed Mar. 27, 1901. Renewed Feb. 1, 1902.)

4 Sheets-Meet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 709,267. Patented Sept. l6, I902.

.w. F. HUTCHINSON.

MACHINE FOR BOXING MATCHES. (Application filed Mar. 27, 1901. Renewed Feb. 1, 1902.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets$haet 3.

ATTORNEY -Yr NORRIS versus cc, moroumou WASNINGTON. u. c.

No. 709,267; Patented Sept. 16, I902.

W. F. HUTCHINSDN.

MACHINE FOR BOXING MATCHES.

(Application filed Mar. 27, 1901. Renewed Feb. 1, 1902.) (NpModeL) 4 Shaats+$heat 4.

WITNESSES; v

INVENTOR I y ATTORN EY THE NQFRgs PiTER s ommoroumou msumomu. u c.

WILLIAM F. HUTOHINSON, OF BOUNDBROOK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ATLAS MATCH COMPANY, OF MELLENVILLE, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR BOXlNG MATCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,267, dated September 16, 1902.

Application filed March 27, 1901. Renewed February 1, 1902. Serial No. 92,197. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. HUTCHIN- SON, of Boundbrook, county of Somerset, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Boxing Matches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of machines which are used to dis- I0 charge match splints from the frames in which they are held while being dipped and then automatically place the discharged matches in the boxes. My invention, however, is not intended to put the matchtrays (so called) into the tubes or shncks, but is simply designed to discharge the matches, bring the trays into position to receive them, and fill the trays.

A particular object of my invention is to provide means for unloading match-frames in such a way that the right quantity of matches will be freed at a discharge to fill a definite number of trays and to provide means for regulating this discharge so as to fill trays of varying sizes.

Other objects of my invention are to make the machine simple and positive, to make it cheap, and to make it work rapidly.

With these ends in view myinvention consists of a machine for unloading and packing matches, the organization, construction, and arrangement of which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,

in which similar figures of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 isa broken side elevation, partly in section, of the machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a broken plan view of the machine. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 4. is a broken detail end view of the guide mechanism for adjusting the trays and the tray-carrying belt. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the part of the machine which discharges the matches from their frame. Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail longitudinal section of the part of the machine for discharging matches from the frames and shows means for feeding the frames through the machine and for discharging a given quantity of matches from the frames. Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section at right angles to that shown in Fig. '7, and Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of a part of one of the frames with the matches therein.

In a machine of this kind, in which quite a portion of it is carrying-belts and guiding mechanism, it is obvious that the form of frame is of little consequence; but, as shown, the machine has a main frame 10 and a supplemental frame 10*, which are merely a pair of connected standards. These parts 10 and 10 serve to support the main belt 11, which runs horizontally over the pulleys 12 and 13, which are carried by the shafts 14 and 15, journaled in the two parts of the frame above mentioned, and the shaft 14. or 15 can be turned in any usual way which will give it a constant. motion.

Just above and parallel with the upper member of the belt 1.1 are vertical guide-plates 16, which nearly touch the belt and which at their front ends are curved slightly, as shown at 16 in Fig. 1, so as to fit the belt where it passes over the pulley 13. These guide-plates 16 are spaced so that the distance between them is less than the length of a match, and consequently when a quantity of matches is carried forward by the belt 11 and between the guide-plates the matches will be prevented from getting crosswise of the belt, and obviously the guide-plates should be near enough to the belt to prevent the matches from passing underneath the guide-plates. The guide-plates 16 may be spaced in any convenient way; but as illustrated they are supported and spaced by the screws 17, which are arranged at necessary intervals and which extend through the plates 16, the screws having suitable nuts 18, between which the several guide-plates 16 are clamped. T he screws 17 are supported on the posts 19.

In using this machine it can be run with various forms of holding-frames; but I have shown it in connection with a very common type of frame 20, which is a mere plate drilled with holes to receive the matches 21, as shown best in Fig. 9, and the match-splints when we out are driven firmly into the plate, the heads are put on, and then the matches are pushed out of the frame. This is a very common form of frame. The frame is pushed into a guideway 22 on opposite sides of the frame 10, so that it will come to rest beneath the plunger or cross-head 23, which is carried by the vertically-sliding shafts 24, these being held in suitable bearings on the main frame 10, and the shafts are cushioned and normally raised by the springs 25, (see Figs. 1 and 6,) which encircle the shafts and press at their lower ends upon the machine-frame and at their upper ends against collars 26 on the shafts 24. The plunger or cross-head 23 has on its under side pins 23, there being as many pins as there are holes in the frame 20, and the pins are arranged so that when the cross-head 23 descends the pins will register with the holes in the frame and will therefore push out the matches from the frame. As soon as the matches leave the frame their heads engage the movingbelt 11, which causes the heads to be carried forward and the matches to be laid straight on the belt 11, in which position they are held by the guideplates 16.

I lay claim to no particular means for moving the cross-head 23, and, on the other hand, I do not restrict myself to any particular means, as such movements are so common. I have illustrated a convenient way of effecting the necessary reciprocation, and to this end the shafts 24 are at their lower ends pivotally connected to arms 27, which are carried by the shaft 28, this being journaled transversely in the frame 10, (see Figs. 3 and 6,) and the shaft is oscillated by means of a crank 29, which extends forward and is pivoted to the eccentric-rod 30, which at its lower end merges in the eccentric-strap 31, this being moved by the eccentric-pulley 32, which is carriedby the shaft 33, so that it- Will be observed that when the shaft revolves the rod will be moved up and down and an oscillatory movement imparted, by means of the crank 29, to the shaft 28, which by reason of the connection already described will impart the necessary movement to the shafts 24 and the cross-head 23. It is necessary that the movement of the cross-head 23 be intermittent and that it be timed so as to descend when the frame 20 is in position beneath it, and therefore I have shown the shaft 33 provided with a clutch-pulley 34, which is controlled by the rod 35 and a treadle-lever 36; but it will be seen that any equivalent devices can be used for stopping and starting the shaft 33such, for instance, as a tight and loose pulley and a suitable shipper.

As described above and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, the machine is intended to discharge all the matches in a frame 20at once, and the frame is placed by hand beneath the crosshead 23; but usually the frames are fed automatically to position beneath the cross-head 23, and it is desirable sometimes to discharge all the splints and at others to discharge a part of them, according to the sizes of the boxes to be filled, as will presently appear. I do not limit the use of the invention to a particular frame or to a frame fed in a particular way; but my experience has been largely with frames fed as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. Here the frame has rack-bars or ratchet-teeth 37 on the sides, and these are engaged by pa ls 38, which feed the frames through step by step, and in order that two frames may be fed when in abutment, so that no skipping of the machine occurs, a pair of pawls 38 are spaced apart suitably and connected by a rod 38*. (See Fig. '7.) The pawls are carried by the levers 39 and 39*, the former levers being bellcranks, which are pivoted on the frame 10 and which connect, by means of rods 40, with the arms 41 on the shaft 28, already referred to. These arms are slotted longitudinally, as shown at 42 in Fig. 7, and the rod is bound in place by nuts 43, and by adjusting the rod 40 in the slot 42 it will be seen that the stroke of the lever 39, and consequently the feed of the frame 20, can be regulated. By referring to Fig. 7 it will be noticed that the cross-head 23 is provided with pins- 23 for only a portion of its length, and consequently when the frame descends only a part of the matches will be discharged from the frame 20, enough, say, to fill several small trays, as will more fully appear hereinafter, and at the next stroke of the plunger or cross-head 23 the frames will have been fed forward, so that a new lot of matches will be brought beneath the pins and the discharged matches will have been carried forward on the belt 11. It will be seen that the discharging and feed in this case are automatic-that is to say, when the plunger 23 moves down, actuated by the arms 27, as already described, the arms 41 will also move down, thus tilting the bellcranks 39, so as to retract the pawls 38, and

the frame 20 will consequently be at rest; butv on the upstroke of the plunger or cross-head 23 the arms 41 rise, and the reverse movement is given to the bell-cranks 39 and pawls 38, so that the frames 20 are advanced the requisite distance. It will be seen, therefore, that with the mechanism just described the matches will be carried forward on the belt 11 in a series of groups, each group being sufficient to fill a certain predetermined number of trays, and if the group of matches is designed to fill larger trays it will of course be seen that it is only necessary to provide the cross-head or plunger 23 with more pins 23, so that a greater number of matches will be discharged at each stroke of the said crosshead.

An inclined chute or apron 45 is arranged to receive the matches discharged from the belt 11, this chute being pivoted as shown at 46 in Fig. 1, and near its free end are rods 47, which are pivoted to it and by which it is supported, these rods being adjustable in sleeves 48, in which they are fastened by setscrews 49. substituted for supporting and adjusting the guide-chute; but it should be adjustable so that its pitch and the consequent discharge of splints can be regulated and controlled. The guide-chute 45 is provided with guideplates or partitions 16 which register with and form continuations of the guide-plates 16 16 so that the chute 45 acts practically as a continuation of the belt 11. The guide-chute 45 is arranged to discharge upon an endless belt 50, which travels at right angles to the chute and to the belt 11, the belt 50 having stops 50 thereon, spaced apart so that match-trays can be placed lengthwise between them. In this connection let it be understood that as a rule match-trays containing anywhere from one hundred to five hundred matches are of the same length; but the variation in the capacity is by reason of the variation in height and width, usually by variation in height. The belt 50 runs over pulleys 51, which are journaled in suitable supports 52, (see Fig. 3,) and the shaft 53 of one of the pulleys is provided with a clutchpulley 54, which is controlled by a pivoted lever 55 and its connection 56with the treadlelever 57. This lever mechanism is not shown in detail because any equivalent means for controlling the movement of the belt 50 can vbe used. If the belt 50, which carries the trays, were perfectly flat, the matches would be discharged with more or less difficulty into the trays which it carries, and to do the work nicely it is necessary that the trays be tilted up slightly, so as to approach the angle of the chute 45, although the angle may be somewhat less. To, this end the upper member of the belt 50 is made to run over a guideplate 58, which is adjusted up and down at its free edge by means of the arms 59, which are threaded and provided with thumb-screws 60, by which the arms, and consequently the guide-plates, may be held at the right height,

ment.

the thumb-screws being used to adjust the arms in the supports 63, to be hereinafter referred to; The guide-plate 58 is at its free edge hinged, as shown at 61, to the back plate 62, and the latter is rigidly supported on the posts 63, and as the position of the back plate is fixed it will be noticed that the guide-plate 58 and the top plate or guardplate 64 can be adjusted in relation to each other and alsoin relation to the chute 45. The guard-plate 64 is hinged, as shown at 65, to the back plate 62, (see Fig 4,) and the plate may beadjusted by means of the arms 66 and the thumb-nut 67, the latter being used to bind the arms to the back plate 62; but, as I have before remarked, the means for adjusting any of the adjustable features of this machine are not claimed; but the adjustability is in some cases claimed without regard to the well-known means of adjust- The function of the top plate 64 is to prevent the matches as they come swiftly Other equivalent means can be down the chute 45 from being thrown over the back plate 62.

The operation of this machine will be clearly understood from the preceding description. It will be observed that the belt 11 will receive the discharged splints either when a frameful is discharged or part of a frameful, and will carry the splints forward and between the guide-plates 16 and dis charge them over the chute 45 into the trays 68, which are carried by the belt 50. These trays may be placed in position by hand and can be removed by hand after they are loaded and placed in an ordinary shuck. The belt 50 may be stopped and started by means of the treadle mechanism 57, and where the matches come in groups, as they are bound to, either in a larger or smaller group, the belt 50 may be made to move between each discharge of the frame, so that when the matches reach the chute 45 the trays are in position at the foot of the chute to receive them.

This machine for unloading and. packing matches may be used independently of matchtrays-that is, of b0X-traysif desired, and the ordinary hand-trays adapted to carry matches preparatory to their being packed by hand can be made to receive the matches as they are discharged from the chute 45.

In the foregoing description I have referred to the part 50 as a belt and have shown it as a belt; but it is perfectly obvious that any form of movable carrier capable of supporting the match-trays and of being adjusted as described will serve the purpose and can be substituted for the belt shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A machine of the kind described, comprising an endless belt, a series of guideplates held longitudinally to the belt and spaced apart so as to hold matches in parallel relation on the belt, and an inclined discharge-chute arranged to receive the matches from the belt, said chute having guide-plates registering with and forming continuations of the guide-plates of the belt.

2. A machine of the kind described comprising an endless belt, a series of guideplates held longitudinally to the belt and spaced apart so as to hold matches in parallel relation on the belt, an inclined dischargechute arranged to receive the matches from the belt, said chute having guide-plates registering with and forming continuations of the guide-plates of the belt, and a match-born carrying means movable beneath the free end of the chute.

3. Amachine of the kind. described comprising an endless belt, a series of guideplates held longitudinally to the belt and spaced apart so as to hold matches in parallel relation on the belt, an inclined discharge-chute arranged to receive the matches.

from the belt, said chute having guide-plates registering with and forming continuations of the guide-plates of the belt, a carrying means movable beneath the free end ofthe chute, and mechanism for tilting the carrying means transverselyof its plane of motion.

I. A machine of the kind described comprising an endless belt, a series of guideplates held in close relation to the upper member of the belt and spaced apart so as to hold matches in parallel relation between them, an inclined chute to receive the matches discharged from the belt, a box-carrying belt movable beneath the discharge end of the chute,andatiltingsupportforthe upper member of the box-carrying belt, said support being adapted to shift the inclination of the carrying-belt transversely' to its plane of motion.

5. In a machine ofthe kind described, the combination with the frame-holding means, of the frames, means for feeding the frames, the reciprocating plunger having pins to enter the frames and eject the matches therefrom, and mechanism for adjusting the feed of the frames by which the frames may be moved at a stroke so as to make the matches to be ejected register with the right number of pins on the plunger.

6. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with the inclined chute, of the belt running at right angles to the chute and adapted to receive the discharge therefrom, and means for tilting the upper member of the belt transversely to its plane of motion.

7. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with the match -discharging chute, of a carrying means movable beneath the discharge end of the chute, and mechanism for tilting said carrying means transversely so as to adjust its horizontal plane with relation to the inclination of the chute.

8. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with the match discharging chute, ofa belt movable beneath the discharge end of the chute, and a tilting plate held beneath the upper member of the belt so as to sustain the said member and hold it at the right inclination with respect to the chute.

9. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with the match discharging chute, of the belt or carrier movable below the discharge end of the chute and at essentially right angles thereto, an adjustable plate arranged beneath the upper member of the belt or carrier by Which the said belt or carrier can be held at the desired inclination with respect to the chute, and a top plate extending over the carrier, said top plate being adjustable in relation to the said belt or carrier.

10. In a machine of the kind describedflihe combination with the match discharging chute, of a belt or carrier movable beneath the discharge end of the chute and at essentially right angles to the chute, a back plate near one edge of the carrier, said back plate rising opposite the discharge end of the chute, a guide-plate hinged to the back plate and extending beneath the upper member of the belt or carrier, and a top plate also hinged to the back plate and extending over the said belt or carrier.

11. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with the match discharging chute, of the belt or carrier movable below the discharge end of the chute and at essentially right angles thereto, a stationary back plate opposite the front edge of the belt or carrier, a guide plate hinged to the back plate and extending beneath the upper member of the belt or carrier, a top plate hinged to the back plate and extending over the belt or carrier, and means for adjusting the guideplate and the top plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. HUTOHINSON.

Witnesses:

HORACE R. PECK, WARREN B. HUTOHINSON. 

